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H.E. Frehiwot Abebe has been serving as the State Minister at Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health since November 2024, leading the Resource Administration and Regulatory Wing. She oversees pharmaceutical supply chain management, healthcare institutions, and professional regulation, with a strong focus on improving the efficiency, transparency, and sustainability of Ethiopia’s healthcare system. She manages the Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Supply Service (EPSS) to ensure the effective procurement, storage, and distribution of medicines and medical supplies while strengthening inventory management to prevent shortages and ensure equitable access to essential medicines.
She works closely with the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority (EFDA) to uphold the safety, quality, and efficacy of medicines and medical devices while supporting the growth of local pharmaceutical manufacturing. Additionally, she oversees the regulation of healthcare institutions and professionals, ensuring compliance with national standards and enhancing patient safety. H.E. Frehiwot advocates for increased funding for pharmaceutical supply chain management and health institution regulation while promoting fair pricing policies to improve healthcare equity. She actively collaborates with international partners to strengthen Ethiopia’s pharmaceutical and healthcare regulatory systems, engages in regional initiatives such as the African Medicines Agency (AMA) to harmonize pharmaceutical regulations, and fosters public-private partnerships to enhance supply chain efficiency and healthcare service delivery.
Before her appointment as State Minister, H.E. Frehiwot served as the Director General of the Ethiopian Health Insurance Service, where she led the implementation and expansion of health insurance services across Ethiopia, focusing on broadening health coverage and improving insurance schemes. Prior to this, she served as the Regional Health Bureau Head in Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State.
H.E. Firehiwot Abebe holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) from Jimma University, earned in 2014, and a BSc in Health from the same university in 2007.